Chapter 2: Backpack
"Number 214… 214… 21—Ah, here we go!" said the 14 year old Valery Hill, as she opened up locker number 214. The inside was little dusty at first, but that didn't really bother her. So she placed a stack of books into the locker, along with sticking up some small pictures; one of her and her family, one of her dog, and one group picture of her all-time favorite superheroes who were now dead: Static, Gear, and Shebang.
She stared at that last picture for a little while before sighing as she closed the locker, and then heading off towards her first class, algebra.
Rina's locker number was 213, which was right beside Valery's. It took her a little while until she found it, and opened it revealing two scattering cockroaches. "Whoa, they never said anything about me having lockermates." She shrugged her shoulders, before putting away a few books into the locker, along with a couple of comic books, and then closed it shut, before walking away, and towards her first class which was also Algebra.
Valery entered the classroom where she had algebra, and walked over to a seat near one of the windows which was about 3 quarters away from the front of the class.
She sat herself down, and placed her bag on top of the desk, then looked around the classroom, there only being 4 other people in the room.
They all looked at her, and she gave them a small wave, and a nervous grin. But their attention to her didn't last long, as they just went back to talking to eachother again.
Val sighed as she turned her head to look out the window, and placed her elbow on the desk, resting her head on the palm of her hand, while waiting boredly.
Rina then entered the room, and looked around for a place to sit. Seeing a girl looking bored and lonely, Rina walked over to her, and sat down at the desk next to hers.
"Hey! Mind if I sit here?" Rina asked.
Val raised her head off of her hand, and slowly turned to face Rina. "No that's fine, you can sit there." Val told her.
"Thanks, uh, my name's Rina." She held out her hand in a greeting manner.
Val grinned crookedly, and shook Rina's hand. "I'm Valery. Val for short." She replied.
"Cool, so what do you—" Rina began, but was cut off by the teacher entering the room and greeting all the students with a "good morning class", and by then the room was filled with students, who replied to the teacher with a mumbling "Morning Mr. Davidson."
"Now class, today we will be working on multiplying out brackets by using algebraic formations." Everyone in the class let out a groan, as the teacher started scribbling notes up on the board, and assigning work as the minutes went by.
After School---
Valery and Rina had no other classes together that day, so after school they unexpectedly met in the corridor where their lockers were located, and while they were going into their lockers which were surprisingly right next to eachother, they saw eachother.
"…Oh hey! I remember you, I met you this morning. Valery, right?" Rina asked.
"That's me, and you're Rina?" Val asked
"Correctomundo." Was the reply from Rina.
Val then glanced at Rina's locker, and saw the stacks of comic books she had in there. "Wow, you like comic books?" she asked exasperatingly.
"Of course! They're only the best ever." Rina replied.
"No way, you're kidding! I've never met another girl who's interested in comics."
"When you say 'another' is that saying to me that you like 'em too?" Rina asked.
"Oh yeah, I read them all the time!"
"Really? Wow, there's something I haven't seen before. Well, I gotta go. I guess I speak to you again tomorrow." Rina told her.
"Yeah. Alright, Peace—"
"—And out." Rina finished off before turning around, and heading out of the school.
Rina walked down the sidewalk heading towards the electronics store, just when a normal car which ran on electricity, went zooming down the road, but came by very close to Rina. "Woah! Geez! Where are the cops these days? Man, if only superheros still existed, this city wouldn't be so wrecked all the time." She sighed and shook her head.
She then finally made it to the electronics store, and opened the door, walking in. She looked around the store with an amazed look on her face. "Wow…--"
"—Can I help you ma'am?" asked one of the shop assistants. Rina looked over at him. "Uh, yes, I'm looking for the new iBackpack Minis which should have been imported today. Do you have any?"
"Yes we do, if you'll come this way." He then led her over to a shelf which displayed all the iBackpack Minis, where the original design was created by the famous superhero Gear, and then upgraded models were made from the idea. "As you see, they come in all different colors. Any particular one you want?" the shop assistant asked her.
"Uh, would you happen to have just a plain sil—" she was interrupted by a squeaky/scratchy noise, which seemed to come from above her, so she looked up, seeing another electronic surveillance backpack.
"Ah! There you are backpack!" came the shop assistant's voice, and the backpack on the ceiling crawled down and up onto the shop keeper's back.
"This here is the original backpack that was created and used by Gear himself. After Gear… perished, we took him in, and kept him. He now helps out around the store, and is a loyal friend. Now, I'm sorry, what were you saying before?" he asked her. But Rina had been dazzled by backpack, and couldn't believe that it was the real one, made and used by Gear himself.
"Uh, ma'am?" asked the shop assistant again, and Rina shook it off. "Oh, uh, right, I was just looking for a plain silver-colored iBackpack Mini, if you have one."
"Yes, would you like me to check the price for you if you're interested in purchasing one?" he asked her.
"Yes please." Was her reply, and the shop assistant walked over to the desk, and logged onto the computer, looking up the price for the iBackpack Mini Rina wanted. "Ah, here we go. It costs $750. Would you like to buy one?"
"Dang, I only have $620. Uh, sorry sir, but I'll be sure to return after I raise enough money."
"Alright, well I'll see you again then."
"Bye." She then exited out of the store with a depressed look on her face, upset that she couldn't afford one, so she then decided to head home after that.
It was now late at night, and over at Valery's house, she sat on the couch in the living room, watching the news.
Apparently the city just kept getting worse and worse, and the police were barely doing anything to help.
Many shops have been robbed lately, and there have also been many burglar attacks.
Valery sighed, and switched off the tv before heading up to her room, and collapsing on her bed. She was so tired, that she fell instantly asleep.
Back at Rina's house, she too had fallen to sleep on her bed after she arrived.
Next Morning---
Rina woke up with a loud yawn, and immediately headed downstairs as soon as she woke up.
She started eating the toast and eggs which were laid out on the table, while also turning on the news on the mini tv that was in the kitchen.
But what she saw on the news made her eyes widen, and spit out the water she just sipped into her mouth.
Here were the news reporter's reviews: "Apparently, another robbery has been taken down at the electronics store, discovered this morning by Mr. Harlock the shop keeper of the store. But this is no ordinary item that has been stolen. It is the rare original electronic surveillance backpack created by the famous hero 'Gear', and I repeat, it has been stolen. We will be updating you with more information after more investigations.This is Marina Sherlon, reporting for Local Dakota News."
Rina's mouth hung open as she saw this. She couldn't believe that it had actually been stolen. Especially it being the great backpack.
She sighed in disbelief, and didn't bother to even finish her breakfast, instead she just headed back up to her room, keeping her eyes glued to the floor as she walked.
She then entered her room, and closed her door behind her. She walked over to her wardrobe, and took out her normal outfit, which she started to put on, but just then she stopped, right when she heard a squeaky/scratchy noise which sounded very familiar, but she couldn't just put her mind on what it was.
The sound came from behind her, so she slowly turned her head 'round, and she absolutely could not believe what she was seeing. There, on her bed… was backpack.
